Fanless Computers

A fanless computer system is a PC without a fan. The internal hardware components are passively cooled if necessary. This offers users a number of advantages over fan-cooled computer systems. FanlessPC systems are ideal for use in dusty and dirty environments, vibrations and are resistant to shocks. Fanless box PCs are now equipped with Solid State Drives for storage. As a result, the last moving part, the hard disk, has also been replaced. This makes these fanless computers quiet and extremely reliable.

In addition to producing noise, the fan and hard drive also affect the reliability of the industrial PC. The rotating parts of a fan and the hard disk are subject to wear. By removing the fan, a solution must be found for cooling various components. This is because components become very hot during use. As a result, they can burn out, performance is reduced and the service life is shorter.

For example, low power components, heat pads and cooling blocks are used to dissipate the heat. The design of the PCB, housing, heat pads and cooling blocks determines the reliability of a Fanless PC system. The better the manufacturer has thought about this and the quality of the components used, the more reliable the system and the overall performance. The choice of a suitable Fanless PC is therefore mainly made on the basis of the environmental requirements, required performance and required lifespan. Once this is clear, a suitable make and model can be selected.

With a fanless box PC, with the correct design and use of components, a 100% CPU load can be achieved at temperatures up to +85 degrees Celsius. Without moving parts, a fanless box PC is also resistant to shocks and vibrations. In addition, a fanless system design is very compact, so that fanless systems can be implemented in the most confined working environments. This makes these industrial computers suitable for a wide variety of applications, ranging from Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications to infotainment systems in trains.

In our product range you will find a wide range of fanless box PCs, which can be used for the most diverse applications. These fanless systems are extensively tested by our suppliers in order to guarantee proper operation under various conditions. For certain applications, these fanless box PCs are also certified according to various quality standards. For example, we supply various in-vehicle PCs with an E-mark and/or EN50155 certification.

Below is a selection of various standard configurations. Are you looking for a customer specific solution? Due to our extensive experience and expertise in the field of fanless system design, we can give you extensive advice. We would like to get in touch with you to discuss the possibilities.

Fanless technology

The industrial environmental conditions are important conditions for selecting the right industrial PC. Embedded systems are often used in environments where a lot of dust, vibrations or shocks can occur. Extreme temperatures also affect the functioning of the system used. A fan-cooled system is then very vulnerable in these types of conditions. A fanless design ensures that industrial PCs can continue to operate 24/7 in these types of conditions.

Our fanless industrial box PCs are equipped with a heat sink or cooling plate through which heat is dissipated from the internal electronic components. Industrial fanless box PCs can therefore continue to operate under high operating temperatures with a 100% CPU load.

Processors

A microprocessor is a processor that is (usually) integrated on a single integrated circuit. A microprocessor is also known as the CPU (Central Processing Unit). Two major processor architectures exist: Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) processors and Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processors. CISC processors are generally used for high performance applications. RISC processors are often less powerful and consume less energy. Over the years, both architectures have taken over some properties from each other. For example, RISC processors are becoming increasingly powerful and CISC processors have become increasingly energy efficient. Intel and AMD x86 processors belong to the category of CISC processors, while ARM processors are part of the RISC processor architecture. In our range you will find fanless box PCs with both ARM and a RISC or a CISC processor.

X86

Today, different types of AMD and Intel embedded processors are integrated into fanless box PCs. For example, you will find fanless box PCs with an Intel Atom or AMD G-Series in our range. These processors offer an optimized performance-per-watt and are very energy efficient. We also supply fanless box PCs that are suitable for high performance embedded applications. These embedded systems are often equipped with an AMD Ryzen or Intel Xeon E processor. These fanless systems bundle a powerful embedded CPU with a GPU for excellent performance.

ARM

We also supply various low-power ARM solutions. The processors of these fanless systems generally consume less than 5W. This is significantly less than the consumption of an Intel Atom or Intel Celeron processor. These processors generally consume between 6W and 30W. However, the speed of ARM CPUs is a lot slower. Fanless systems with an ARM processor are therefore usually used for tasks where not much performance is required. Such fanless box PCs are, for example, ideal for IoT applications. In our range you will find various ARM-based fanless systems, which can be used as an IoT gateway, among other things.

LAN

The Local Area Network (LAN) is a local area network that connects computers and other equipment, allowing them to communicate with each other. Fanless systems are equipped with a LAN port, so that these industrial PCs can be connected to an internal network. In some cases, these systems have multiple LAN ports, so these embedded computers can be connected to multiple local networks.

PoE

PoE stands for Power over Ethernet. This is a technology that allows both power and data to be sent to a device. The use of PoE makes a power adapter unnecessary. This offers a solution in industrial environments, where a power supply via the socket is difficult to achieve.

A fanless box PC with PoE + ports provides users with an economical, flexible and scalable solution. In the long term, savings are made on cabling costs, because both power and data are sent via a CAT5 cable. It also offers users various benefits for security applications. In addition to the lower costs involved in installing IP cameras, these cameras can also be pre-programmed remotely. Once connected, the PTZ cameras can also be controlled via a fanless box PC via PoE +.

Chassis Options

As standard, our fanless PCs usually have a compact chassis with various mounting options. These industrial PCs can be installed on the tightest workplaces by DIN-Rail or a flange mount.

The housing of fanless box PCs often consists of high-quality materials. Certain fanless systems are equipped with a chromated metal chassis, which protects the internal components as much as possible against EMI. The rugged design of our fanless systems makes it possible to use these industrial PCs in the most challenging environments.

For certain standard configurations, the enclosure can be customized depending on the application. In certain situations, the height or length of the chassis can be adjusted. Our Swiss partner MPL even offers the possibility to provide the desired embedded hardware with a fanless 19 ”chassis.

Automation

In automation, machine learning is nowadays used for various production processes. Machine learning consists of two different phases: AI training and AI Inference.

AI training requires intensive computing power to develop a neural network model. Ai-Inference focuses on the analysis of generated field data.

Edge computing is used to predict performance based on AI training. To perform real-time inference on the Edge, you need a very powerful fanless system. Arcobel offers powerful CPUGPU fanless box PCs.

IIoT Gateways

Gateways provide translation and thus also the connection between two incompatible networks. Due to the rise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), gateways are widely used in industry.

A gateway has the necessary I/O to convert the signals from sensors into data. This data is then sent to the Cloud.

On Arcobel.com you will find various fanless systems that can be used as an IIoT gateway. Due to the compact design and the various configuration options, these solutions are ideal for setting up a next gen IoT infrastructure.

In-Vehicle Applications

The computer systems on board vehicles are often extremely compact, resistant to shocks, vibrations and temperature fluctuations. A fanless box PC offers a solution. FanlessPC systems are therefore used on board for various tasks.

These systems are used on board for fleet management, infotainment and communication purposes. These applications require a robust and reliable solution. Important factors are a wide-range power input, a reliable communication connection and a robust design. In-vehicle PCs are ideal for applications in automotive and transport environments. These fanless box PCs are compact and easy to integrate.

Our in-vehicle PCs and railway PCs are fanless, shock resistant and can withstand very extreme temperatures. Thanks to a wide range power supply, these systems also comply with the EN50155 and E-mark standards. These embedded systems often have specific I/O and combine CPU power with graphic performance.